Sealing means



June 28, 193s. H'- G, VAUGHN 2,121,843

SEALING MEANS Filed Aug. 20, 1936 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 h INVENTOR.

HAnLn EARVAUEHN.

ATTORNEY,

e Patented June 2,81938 .UNITED s''rATl.sy

PATENT OFFICE r' 2,121,343 e' scema e MEANS Harold Gar Vaughn.. Warren,Ohio, alsignor to I yThe .Ohio Corrugating- Company, Warren, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio.

` Application August 20, 1938, Serial No. 97,061

` schim (c1. zzp-za) This invention relates lto containers of variousshapes 'and constructions for storing and shipment of liquids,semi-liquids and lfoods, more particularly tothe sealingmeans therefor.The

iinvention `is adapted for sealing the container opening, and also'suchan opening where the l latter is provided with a removable closuredevice (which--after thesealing means is removed-is intended to bevremoved and replaced from time i l0 to time, i1' desired), wherebyunauthorizedaccess to or removal of the closure deviceand/or ree moval`orzcontamination of [the container contents isiprevented, except by'rstmutilating the y z sealing means, so that detection of anyv tamper' Iling is'readily and positively determined; provision .l being made-tomutilate and rremove the'sealing `means in a ready manner by anyauthorized person. I' In thev arrangement shown the sealing means isadapted to seal a closure device in posizo. tion andl the opening closedthereby, without damaging, loosening or unseating the closure device. l'l. 1

' f `The invention` is applicable'to variousr kinds of containers, thatshown herein merely for illusl, 25 trative purposes being formed ofsheet metal and f oi the type-having a clamped-on cover; that is,

"a cover having on its" perimeter separate lugs l which are bent by handor a suitable tool around and vinto positive engagement with a falsebead orrim on the container body, but in such a container the ltop maybe otherwise secured to the K g container body, as by welding or doubleseaming.

,l Great'diillculty has heretofore been experienced `in sealing acontainer opening by means ofa igfsealing member, which wasintended tobe distorted, damaged or. torn to detect tampering,

where the opening Vwas-provided with a closurey device,v sothat inshipment or handling of the -container the closure device and/or capwere in- 40' eiective to prevent leakage. It has also been y .i'ounddimcult to applyv a sealing member tol or in y.association with aclosuredevice, without distortving or damaging the latter, the effect ofwhich was-,to 'make Vthe device inoperative as well .as'to Vtllxincreasethe danger of leakage during shipmentl of the container.Furthermore,sealing members .now in use, and of which I have knowledge,have been found to be ineiective as a means of detection, since themember could be removed without i501anydistortion or damage to itor'withsolittle distortion that it could be readily.re-shaped; so e thatin either` event the sealing member could be re--placed without veectingadetection` of such '.rernoval.v Accordingly, one object ofthe'invenrIl' tionls to provide an improved `.sealing member whereinwhich may be readily applied to and associated with a closure device fora container opening to insure sealing thereofl during shipment of thecontainer and which cannot be removed without detection. i 5 Anotherobject of the invention isl to provide an improved sealing member 'whichmay be applied to and associated with the'closure device for a containeropening to detect tampering and which may be readily applied, withoutdistorting, 10k

damaging or loosening the closure device, whereby ,the latter mayberemoved and replaced at will, after removal of the sealing member.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a Icontainer openinganimproved sealing-mem- 1li4 ber wherein the marginal portion of itsskirt is to those skiued in, the art to which my invention 30 v relatesfrom the following description'taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, K

" Fig. 1 is aside elevation-'ofl a container (parts 4thereofbeing brokenaway) Ahaving applied there- 35 to a sealing means embodying myinvention, the sealing member being shown in section on thelineI-loiFig. 3. v y

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of parts shown o in Fig. 1, enlarged.

Fig. 3 is a'i'ragmentary plan view on the line 3-3oiFlg.1..` ,r

' Fig. i is a section similar to Fig. 2, with the -sealing memberremoved and showing the op- 45 eration of removing the closure device.

Fig. 5 is fa plan of the sealing. member. Fig. 6 is la side elevation ofthe sealing member,

l parts being broken away.

Fig. 6a is a plan view ota sealing member hav-l 50 ing a lmodified form.

Fig. 6b is a section on the line '8b-8b of Fig. 6a. Fig. '7 isa planview of the closure device. f y Fig. 8 is `a side elevation oi theclosure device,

parts being broken away. l l5 and provided with an upstanding collar 4in conleo Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the closure device.

Fig. 10 isa view `similar to Fig. 8, but showing the closure device inthe position it occupies when being applied to or removed froirnalcontainer opening.

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modifiedform of sealing means.

Fig. 12 is aplan View on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the sealing member shown in Figs. 1l and12.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of another modified form ofsealing member.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the member shown in Fig. 14.

In the drawings, I indicates as an entirety `acontainer comprising abody having side walls I"VV (preferably of cylindrical shape in crosssection) and a top or head 2, which may be integral with or permanentlylsecured tothe side walls I by welding, soldering, double seaming orotherwise; but in the construction shown for illustrative pur- Y posesthe side walls I' are provided with a false bead la and the top 2 has acircumferential flange terminating in lugs 3 which are bent by hand or asuitable tool inwardly under, into engagement with and around the falsebead, as shown at 3a.

The top 2 is formed with an emptying opening nected relation to theopening, the free end of the collar forming a seat 4 for a 'closuredevice' or a sealing member when such a device is not used. Where thecollar 4 is not integral with the top 2,

as herein shown for illustrative purposes, its

lower end is suitably secured in a liquid tight manner to the walls ofthe opening. The' collar 4 is provided with a constrictedcircumferential portion 5 and an expanded circumferential portionthereabove to form a shoulder 6 for engage#- ment by the inturned ends(to be later referred to) on the circumferential side wall 8 of aclosure device 9. The upper end portion of the collar 4 is preferablyinclined inwardly, as shown at I0, to facilitate the application of theclosure device 9 and the marginal end of the collar may be bent back onitself to form a suitable gasket seat l4. The formation of the collar 4,as above described, serves to reinforce it to withstand the necessarypressure utilized to position the sealing member, to which reference islater `made. The closure device 9 is of the type which permits it to beapplied toand removed from the collar 4, at

will, being .preferably formed of resilient sheet metal and consistingof a concave-convex topV II and an integral side wall 8 (alreadyreferred to), The side wall 8 is slitted at uniformly spaced pointsthroughout its circumference, from its free edge inwardly toapproximately the connection of the side wall lwith the top II, wherebyresults a plurality'of resilient fingers I2. The free ends of the nge'rsI2 are bent inwardly, as shown at 1, for engagement with the undersideof the shoulder 6 (see Figs. 1 and 2). I2 indicates a gasket which is ofa size to snugly fit within the side wall 8 of the closure device 9 soas toV be retained in position therein when the device is removed, butis held in engagement with the seat 4' of the collar 4 to close theopening therethrough when the device is in position. The top ofthe-closure device 9 is adapted to be iiexed to opposite-sides of animaginary line extending substantially in the plane of the perimeter ofthe top, so that when the top is exed inwardly, that is,

in the direction in which the ngers I2 extend, the latter aresimultaneously-expanded to permit their ends 1 to freely ride overtheshoulder 6 and titlev device 9 removably positioned on'the collar 4,as shown in Fig. 4. If now inward pressure is applied to the fingers I2,the-top Il will be flexed outwardly, that is, to the opposite side ofsaid imaginary line, the effect of which is to movel the ngers inwardlywith their ends below rnd in Vyielding engagementwith the shoulder 6, as

s hown in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby securing the closure device inposition. To remove the closure device 9, pressure is applied to thecentral portion of the topII to flex it inwardly, in the oppositedirection, such operation serving to expand the fingers I2 and disengagethem from the shoulder Vinturned ends 'l in engagement with the-shoulder6, whereby the closure device cannot be removed when the member I3 is inposition. The sealing member I3 is formed of thin material, such as thinsheet metal, which ,(1) permits it to be readily applied, as hereinafterset forth, without distorting or damaging the `closure device oraffecting its capability to be removed and replaced after the sealingmember I3 is detached, but (2) necessitates the distortion, damaging ortearing of the sealing member when the latter is removed or attempt ismade to remove it, thereby making the member totally ineffective forreplacement or reuse.

.In the embodiment or .form of construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5and 6, the `sealing member constitutes a-cap which encloses the closuredevice 9 and comprises a top `I4 'and a surrounding skirt I5, the freecircumferentialedge of which is provided with an outwardly extendingreinforcing and tool engaging wall I6. 'I'he wall I6 may be in the formof aange but is preferably shown in the form of a bead. Where a flangeis provided,lit may be doubled back on itself for strengthening its'edge. The bead I6 and adjacent portion of the skirt I5 are formed withslots I1 at uniformly spaced points circum: ferentially of the skirt, sothat the skirt i's weak- `ened along an imaginary circumferential line'pressure on the skirt I5 above said line, so that danger of flexing ordistorting the fingers I2 or contiguous portions of the closure device9, when the cap is applied in position, is eliminated. Such inwardbending of-the tabs is carried out without imparting to the closuredevice or the fingers I2 thereon any upward movement thereof, the effect0f which would beto permitleakage between the collar and closure device;in other sealing-relation between the gasket I2 and its seat 4\so thatno danger of leakage is present.

rThe slots 3I1 provide ample clearance'between the f tabs to permit themtobe bent inwardly into clamping or crimping engagement'withthe collar land the finger endsl, whereas the beads I6 Aserve to reinforce the freeends of the tabs to insure the bending of the tabs at their rinner 10ends substantially along said imaginary circumlferent'ial line. As aresult of ytlriis construction and arrangement, (a) the opening throughthe collar I is sealed against leakage, thereby permitting shipment andhandling of the container and `lll {,(b) the removal of the cap orA anyattempt to pry it oil. by the use of a device (such as a screwdriverfa'nd the like)` engaged with any of the`tabs'or skirt, willresult in a mutilation of the tabs or skirt or tearing of the metal, soythat* the cap cannot be replaced Vwithout detection of `such tampering.

.'I'he skirt I I5 of the cap I3 preferably lies inv close engagementwiththe fingers I2 andvis held in such relation with the latter bythe tabswhen the' latter are clamped in sealing positionthe :tabs also servingtoI secure the inturnedends 1v t l inengagement with the shoulder 9 toprevent removal of the closure device 9. Accordingly, whenv the cap I3isin sealing position, j the ends 1 of the fingers 'I2 are clamped againstthe underside ofy the shoulder 6 by the tabs, which therefore preventthe closure device from being pulled off with,-

" out rst mutilating the cap.`

" The cap I3 is preferably constructed topermit its ready removal byan'yauthorized person. For

thispurpose I score the walls of the cap along two lines I8, I8,extending from two adjoining slots I1 f along the skirt I5 and partiallyacross'the top Il,1

the lines of scoring being connected at their inner ends and formingbetween them a section or strip yof metal I9 that can vbe readilydetached or torn `iromthe remaining portion of the cap and thus permit'such portion to be removed.

In the formation .of the cap, when itis to be associated with a closuredevice, the inner end portion of the top section I9 is detached and bent'upwardly to form a wing I9 which, when grasped between the fingers orby a suitable gripping tool `and pulled, facilitates the detachment ofthe section I9. Fig. 2 shows in dotted lines the section I9 partiallydetached and if upward pull f thereon is continued the entire section,I9 may bev detached valong the lines'` I9, I9; thisoperation obviouslyserving to mutilate the cap and permit itsready removal. Figs.' 6a and6b show a modiied form of construction, that is, a sealing member havinga scored section ybut wherein no part `ofthe scored section is detached,as above described, so that the top of the sealing member remains closedand when positioned itsupplements the function of the closure in sealingthe container. l

Figs. 11,- 12 and 13 illustrate a sealing member of a slightly differentformycomprisingan annu-` lar topportion I 4' which engages the top ofthe closure. device 9, provided with an integral wingl 29 extendinginwardly from one side of the top portion and a skirt I5 having slots I1around its circumferential edge to provide the bendable tabs which arereinforced by the beads I6. In applyl ing the member shownv in theseviews, the top portion I 4' engages the top II of the closure device,

`-the tabs' being bent into engagement with the shoulder 6 and lingerends 1, as already de,-

scribed. To provide for the removal of the seall limiting.

ing member, the metal ofthe top portion Il" and skirt I 5 are scored onthe lines I8', preferably y coinciding at their innerends with the sideedges ofthe wing 20 and at their outer ends `with two adjacent slotsI1'. By grasping the wing 20 and pulling it upwardly and laterally,thesection of 'metal dened'bythe scoring may be detachedv from theremaining 'portion of the member Vand thus effect a mutilationl thereofand its ready removal, s v f Figs. 14 and k15 show a constructionsimilar to I iigs. 11, 12 and 13, except that thevwing indicated at 20'is"-integrally connected to opposite sides of the top portion Ilandscored on a transverse line 2|', so thatfthe sectional vportion con-vnected to the top portion'll' along the scored" lines I 9 may bedetached from the other sectional portion and detached, as abovedescribed yto eect mutilation sealing' member AFrom the foregoing`description it will be noted that the sealing member seals thecontainer open,- ing to prevent leakage at all times, thereby perandready removal ofthe mitting shipment of. the container, it prevents removal `o1! the closure device so long as the cap y is in'position, themember is so constructed that 'it may be readily applied andl removedwithout affecting the operability'of the closure device, and

itis a positive detection member since `it cannot `be tampered with orremoved except by a mutilation which prevents its re-use.

To those skilled in the art to which my inven- L tion relates manychangesy in construction and widely differing embodiments andapplications of the invention ywill suggest themselves without departingfrom-itsspirit and scope. My disclosures Vand the descriptionherein arepurely illustra- 'I tiveV and are not intended to bein any sense thevclosure for a `container opening, formed oi' thin sheet metal andcomprising a top portion and a skirt, the marginal portion of the skirtbeing formed in its circumference with spaced slots extending inwardlyfrom the lfree edge of said marginal portion to provide between themcrimping tabs, 'the free ends of :said tabs being @beaded and said tabsrbeing bendableinwardly substantially along imaginary lines connectingthe inner ends of said slots. 1 2. A sealing member for a containeropening formed of thin material and comprising an annular top portionprovided with a strip connected to opposite sides thereof and a skirt,the marginal portion of said skirt being 'slotted inwardly from itscircumferential edge to form bendable tabs around its marginal portion,said skirt and top portion being scored along lines at opposite sides ofsaid strip and each score line I extending from the inner edge of saidtop portion to oneof said slots and said strip being scored transverselybetween its connections with said top portion;

3. A deformable anti-tampering, removable sealing member formed of thinsheet metal-and adapted to be related to a replaceable closure vice anda skirt surrounding the resilient iingers of the closure device, vthemarginal portionof said skirt below the free circumferential edges ofsaid fingers being formed in its circumference with spaced slots toprovide crimping tabs adapted to be bent inwardly below and withoutpressure on the resilient fingers, the free ends of said tabs beingbeaded and said slots extending inwardly from the marginal edge of saidskirt to approximately the line on which said tabs are bent inwardly.

4. A deformable anti-tampering, removable sealing device formed ofthlnsheet metal and comprising a cup-shaped member adapted to enclosethe top and side walls of a closure, the skirt of said member normallyextending beyond the side walls of the closure and its free edge being Vbeaded, said beaded edge and skirt being formed with spaced slots whichextend from said edge to approximately the terminating edges of saidside Walls to form tabs adapted to be bent inwardly substantially onlines connecting the inner ends of said slots.

5. A deformable anti-tampering, removable sealing member for protectingthe closure for a. container spout having an external annular shoulder,formed of thin sheet metal and comprising an annular top wall forengaging the top of the closure anda skirt normally depending below theside portion of the closure, the marginal edge of said skirt beingformed with uniformly spaced, inwardly extending slots terminatingapproximately at the free ends of the closure side portions to form tabsadapted to be bent inwardly into engagement with the annular shoulder ofthe container spout, the'free ends of said tabs being beaded andsaid topwall being scored along a substantially radial line.

HAROLD GAR VAUGHN.

